St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Celebrates Pascha with the Archpastor of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

CHRIST IS RISEN! XPUCTOC BOCKPEC

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Celebrates Pascha with the Archpastor of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

Photos by Svitlana Lymar

“The Light is here - bishop is carrying it!”

The words, shared by a woman with the person standing in the pew next to her, almost immediately sparked a joyful prayerful conversation among those gathered for the midnight Pascha services at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL!

The Fathers of the Church often speak and warn against a certain “numbness” that can enter our lives and keep us from experiencing newness of life. Sometimes, we are numb to the evil in our midst and just accept “things as they are.” Sometimes we are numb to God’s miracles in our lives and fail to recognize all that is possible. Sometimes, we are numb to what is expected of us and just “keep going on” living our lives in the same old way. Sometimes, we are numb to the reality that this world will one day end and so we just put all our emphasis on the here and now. However, on Pascha night - the Church in her infinite love and wisdom gives us the “wake up call” we may need to alleviate our numbness.

The liturgical services began in total darkness, as His Grace Bishop Daniel chanted the announcement of Resurrection and carried out the flame from the tomb of the Savior, which was brought from Jerusalem to St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL!

This year, more than 500 men, women and children were welcomed to the cathedral’s temple during the Pascha Midnight service. The Boyan choir under the direction of Volodymyr Popowych led the chanting of the entire liturgical cycle of the services, thus spiritually uplifting those in attendance. Faithful from all over Chicago Metropolitan area arrived to the cathedral in order to share of joy of Pascha with people of various age groups and immigrations to the United States of America. Chanting the Gospel narrative at the Liturgy, the Word of God was proclaimed in 18 languages, thus offering a bit of Christ’s presence to the representatives of Ukrainian, Serbian, Belorysyn, German, Greek, Antiochian and other ethnic communities.

“We began this liturgy in darkness, which is in our midst each day but sadly may no longer shock us,” Bishop Daniel shortly reflected in his address. “Having lit the Paschal Candle, may we be drawn away from a passive acceptance of the darkness and drawn ever close to the Light of Christ.”

He concluded, “We must not be consumed with worldly concerns. Instead, we keep our eyes on what is above so that on the day the Lord calls us to Himself we may fully celebrate the truth proclaimed on this holy night: that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father; we too might live in newness and fullness of life forever and ever.”

At the conclusion of the services, blessing hundreds of traditional Paschal baskets, the pastor of St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Lymar, assisted by Protodeacon Andriy Fronchak welcomed numerous visitors to the parish’s temple, speaking about the joyous occasion of Easter, describing the risen Christ as “the heart of our faith.”

Bidding farewell to the hundreds of faithful, Vladyka Daniel stated: “Pascha/Easter Sunday presents human life as it will be – life eternal – if we believe in the risen Lord… The empty tomb – this is our legacy as Christians.” “The heart of our faith is this day,” he said. “There is no more significant event in the history of the world, nor will there ever be.”

With the chanting of the Paschal tropar and a joyful exclamation Christ is Risen! Христос Воскрес!, the faithful departed the cathedral temple sharing with each other the joy of our Lord's Resurrection, taking to heart the final words of their archpastor:“Let us therefore rejoice in the Risen Lord and be encouraged to face our own struggles with courage and hope, knowing that the Lord is ever with us. And as we celebrate the bright and joyous day of His Resurrection, let us exclaim with the Apostle Paul: O death, where is thy sting? O hell, where is thy victory? (I Cor. 15:55).May we all be granted to partake of eternal life with joy at the Banquet of Immortality.”